Trading in the time of Corona: digital transformation and resilient vulnerability in Zimbabwe’s informal economy

Although crisis-driven digital innovation and pragmatic adaptation were evident at the individual level, Zimbabwe’s informal sector exhibited a core paradox during the COVID-19 pandemic: systemic shortcomings persisted, sustaining an enduring state of ‘resilient vulnerability’. Drawing on survey data and qualitative interviews with 60 participants, this study examines how Zimbabwean traders transformed social media platforms into primary e-commerce channels during the crisis, developing innovations such as diaspora delivery networks, hybrid business models, and fintech adaptations despite persistent structural constraints. However, these individual digital adaptations could not overcome systemic barriers, including the 2020 mobile money ban, last-mile delivery failures, regulatory contradictions, and the exclusion of informal workers from state relief programmes. The analysis identifies three phases of adaptation: initial shock (March–June 2020), pragmatic innovation (July 2020–2021), and constrained recovery (2021–2024). The study demonstrates that sustainable digital transformation requires bridging the gap between individual innovation and structural support, offering crucial insights for technology adoption in resource-constrained environments where informal economies dominate.